Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am very experienced environmental professional with over 45 years experience
I am a certified environmental professional & a Fellow of the EIANZ
I have been involved in CC issues for more than 20 years & believe that the evidence before
us now show we are headed for catastrophic climate change as we have not made the
required changes in our life styles & economies to slow it down, through greed, political &
economic incompetence, despicable vested interests & corruption at many levels
Coal is finished as a viable energy source as its CO2 emissions are not acceptable to enable
CO2 levels to drop sufficiently to prevent or minimise the catastrophic changes we are & will
continue to experience on a far wider scale
Increasing coal mining is economically, environmentally & socially incompetent & irrational &
cannot be permitted at any level
This is a great example of such incompetence & irrational proposals that can be accepted
Give has to take responsibility for making rational & sustainable actions to try & minimise the
catastrophic changes coming for all our sakes!!
Yours sincerely,
Kim McClymont

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a nurse and I am very concerned about the plans to extend the mines in and around
Lake Macquarie area. I have witnessed first hand the respiratory illnesses and malignancies
related to coal dust and the burning of coal. Please don't increase the air pollution and look
to renewable for power.
Yours sincerely,

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
As a life-long resident of Lake Macquarie with a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science
- Hons I) from the University of Newcastle, I strongly object to this project. The project is
completely at odds with the needs of our local community and environment, and in fact will
clearly be a detriment to both public health and the health of local ecosystems surrounding
the project, as well as the global climate impacts of the release of emissions from the
project's 9.5Mt of coal to be burned at the Vales Point power station. Furthermore, the
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Project is completely inadequate and fails to
provide the information required by the Government for it to be able to properly assess the
Project.
The effects of air pollution on human health have been studied and known about for many
decades, and the list of health problems to which air pollution contributes continues to grow
in tandem with research. This list now includes heart disease, stroke, asthma attacks, low
birth weight of babies, lung cancer and type 2 diabetes. Research has also demonstrated
that reducing air pollution, even if exposure levels are already low, leads to better health.
(Ewald 2018)
Ewald, B. (2018), The value of health damage due to sulphur dioxide emissions from coalfired electricity generation in NSW and implications for pollution licences. Australian and
New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42: 227-229. https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-
6405.12785
The potential impacts of contaminated water being discharged from the sediment dams into
Swindles Creek, which then discharges directly into Lake Macquarie, is not adequately
addressed in the EIS for this project. The EIS does not adequately assess the potential
impacts of the Project on local biodiversity, particularly the ecology of Swindles Creek.
The subsidence assessment does not include a detailed assessment of the potential
subsidence effects and impacts of the Project In his view, the assessment does not evaluate
the adequacy and results of past monitoring or the potential impacts to ecological receptors
above the mines, such as Lake Macquarie, in the event that subsidence exceeds predicted
levels.
The EIS for this project fails to assess the likely impacts of GHG emissions from the Project
in contributing to climate change and climate harms. NCC objects to the Project on the basis
that Australia’s GHG emissions must be urgently reduced by 74% by 2030, while the Project
would instead increase Australia’s emissions by 25 million tonnes over the next 7 years. This
is a critical time for our planet, and under our global obligations to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, there should be no further approvals for coal
mining. Furthermore, the planned closure of Vales Point power station in 2029 should be
brought forward in line with our International obligations.
I vehemently oppose this project. This is a turning point in history, and you have the power to
be on the right or wrong side of history in judging this project and I urge you not to approve
it, for the sake of our community and environment.
Yours sincerely,
Joshua Davis

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
At 89 years of age, I greatly appreciate the healthy environment in which I grew up. For the
sake of children (and adults), please, please, do not allow Delta Coal to mine more coal from
beneath Lake Macquarie., The increased pollution and greenhouses gases will risk
degrading water quality, and therefore have an effect on health and the environment.
Present and future generations of Australians will be grateful for your support.
Yours sincerely,
Ruth McColl

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a pensioner living in Australia who is deeply concerned by the health impact
environmental destruction, and climate impact of coal mining.
I am aware that the carbon emissions like carbon dioxide and methane from coal are
dangerously warming the planet while there are all of impacts to air quality like the release of
nitrogen oxides and other oxides. There are also negative impacts on local water quality.
Yours sincerely,
Shannon Walsh

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
Personal experience driving over sinkhole at Chain Valley North.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Mardel

Healthy Futures is an organisation of healthcare workers and community members working
to limit the health impacts of pollution. We are deeply concerned about the health effects of
toxic pollutants from coal mining and coal-fired power stations.
We object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (the Project) proposed by Delta
Coal.
We make this written objection concerning two likely main impacts of the Project.
Air quality impacts
The health impacts of coal pollution have been well described by the Physicians for Social
Responsibility in the United States, amongst others.1 In NSW, scientific understanding of
the sources and health impacts of air pollution has significantly increased in recent years
with extensive research by the CSIRO and DPIE. 2, 3, 4
The direct impact on air quality from mining coal at Chain Valley and Mannering Park, as
well as the subsequent burning of coal at Vales Point Power Station (VPPS), will generate
unacceptable air pollution with significant health impacts for Lake Macquarie residents and
the broader community – noting that air pollution from Vales Point Power Station travels into
the Greater Sydney Metropolitan region. It is our submission that the secondary impacts
from burning coal extracted from the Project at Vales Point Power Station must be
considered as part of the assessment of the Project, as these impacts are sufficiently linked
to the Project.
Air pollution exposure increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes, asthma, lung cancer and
many other cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as increasing the risk of lowweight births and stillbirths. 1,5, 6, 7
The health risks associated with exposure to coal dust for community members close to
Chain Valley, Mannering and VPPS should not be understated.8 These two coal mines and
the adjacent power station are in a region with over 200,000 residents and over 60,000
families.
We submit that the likely impacts of the Project on air quality pose an unacceptable risk to
public health and on this basis the Department should refuse the Project.
Climate change impacts
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from burning the coal mined from Chain Valley and
Mannering mines at VPPS will also contribute to catastrophic climate change. We note that
the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project indicates that the Project will result
in the following total GHG emissions:
a. Scope 1 (direct) GHG emissions – 4,938,154 tonnes of CO2-e;
b. Scope 2 (indirect) GHG emissions – 313,536 tonnes of CO2-e; and
c. Scope 3 (indirect) GHG emissions – 33,335,340 tonnes of CO2-e.
Scope 3 emissions are the result of burning the coal extracted from the mines at VPPS.
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This Project will contribute to climate change, which in turn will contribute to adverse impacts
on human health within NSW and elsewhere.
It is well acknowledged, for example, that climate change causes deterioration in air quality
in NSW.9 This is due to increased temperatures promoting the formation of harmful
secondary ozone and PM2.5 pollution and the increase in frequency and severity of extreme
weather events such as bushfires. These mines and the subsequent burning of the coal
extracted will contribute to creating further GHG emissions, contributing to extremely
dangerous climate change.
The continued extraction and burning of coal must be rapidly curtailed to limit devastating
climate-related health impacts on Australians and people around the world. 10, 11, 12 We
note that Adapt NSW, the NSW Government’s own agency responsible for assisting people
take action and adapt to climate change impacts states the following with respect to the
connection between climate change and health:13
• The effects of climate change are already having consequences for human health.
• The impacts of climate change can worsen symptoms of many health conditions, such
as heart disease, asthma and other lung conditions, and mental health.
• More frequent and intense weather events caused by climate change can lead to more
emergency room visits, hospitalisations and deaths. These events may also affect
electricity supply, transport and communication systems, which in turn will affect our
ability to meet an increased health services demand.
AdaptNSW also notes the following groups of people are particularly at risk from climate
change:
• people who are socio-economically disadvantaged
• rural and geographically isolated communities
• people with disabilities
• children and older people
• pregnant women and unborn children
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The NSW Government has a deep and immediate obligation to reduce GHG emissions, not
only to reduce further direct and indirect health impacts of coal pollution but to prevent
dangerous anthropogenic climate change and the risks present to vulnerable and
marginalised communities. It is the closure, and not extension, of coal mines and power
plants that is needed, and there are notable health-related savings to be had from avoiding
the associated air pollution of these operations. 12, 14
Comments on the Environment Impact Statement
In addition to our above concerns, we raise the following comments on the EIS for the
Project:
a. the EIS is inadequate because it does not address the ‘likely impacts’ of the Project
(being air quality and health impacts) caused by air pollution emitted from Vales Point
Power Station;
b. the EIS is inadequate because it does not properly address the impacts that the
climate change impacts of the Project will have on health;
c. it does not appear that the EIS proposes any mitigation measures for Scope 3 GHG
emissions;
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d. it is not clear to what extent Delta Coal has consulted with NSW Health on the health
impacts of the Project;
e. the EIS does not contain a thorough Health Impact Assessment that addresses in
detail the potential social, economic, lifestyle and behavioural costs to the immediate
community as well as the downstream direct and indirect impacts that will occur in
other communities;
These matters must be addressed by Delta Coal, and the Department must require further
information from Delta Coal to properly assess the Project.
Fundamentally, Healthy Futures objects to development projects that extend the life of any
coal mines or prolong the operations of polluting coal-fired power stations.
Thank you for considering our submission.
To discuss this submission please contact Bronwyn McDonald
[email protected]
Sources
1. Lockwood, A.H., Welker-Hood, K., Rauch, M. & Gottlieb, B. (2009). Coal’s assault on
human health: a report from physicians for social responsibility. Retrieved from
http://www.psr.org/assets/pdfs/psr-coal-fullreport.pdf
2. Chang, L., Scorgie, Y., Duc, H., Monk, K., Fuchs, D., & Trieu, T. (2019). Major
Source Contributions to Ambient PM2.5 and Exposures within the New South Wales Greater
Metropolitan Region. Atmosphere, 10(3), 138.
3. Duc, Hiep & Chang, Lisa & Trieu, Toan & Salter, David & Scorgie, Yvonne. (2018).
Source Contributions to Ozone Formation in the New South Wales Greater Metropolitan
Region, Australia. Atmosphere. 9. 443.
4. Broome, R., Powell, J., Cope, M., Morgan, G. (2020) The mortality effect of PM2.5
sources in the Greater Metropolitan Region of Sydney, Australia, Environment International,
Volume 137, 2020, 105429, ISSN 0160-4120,
5. Robert Clemons, Maiying Kong, Kahir Jawad, Yana Feygin & Kerry Caperell (2022)
The impact of converting a power plant from coal to natural gas on pediatric acute asthma,
Journal of Asthma, 59:12, 2441-244
6. Xue, T., Tong, M., Li, J. et al. Estimation of stillbirths attributable to ambient fine
particles in 137 countries. Nat Commun 13, 6950 (2022)
7. Farrow, A., Anhäuser, A., & Myllyvirta, L. (2020). Lethal power: how coal is killing
people in Australia. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
8. Hendryx M, Ahern MM. Relations between health indicators and residential proximity
to coal mining in West Virginia. Am J Public Health. 2008 Apr;98(4):669-71.
9. Paton-Walsh, C., Rayner, P., Simmons, J., Fiddes, S. L., Schofield, R., Bridgman, H.,
Beaupark, S., Broome, R., Chambers, S. D., Chang, L. T.-C., Cope, M., Cowie, C. T.,
Desservettaz, M., Dominick, D., Emmerson, K., Forehead, H., Galbally, I. E., Griffiths, A.,
Guérette, É.-A., ... Zhang, Y. (2019). A Clean Air Plan for Sydney: An Overview of the
Special Issue on Air Quality in New South Wales. Atmosphere, 10(12), 774.
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10. Hughes, L., Hanna, E. & Fenwick, J. (2016). The silent killer: climate change and the
health impacts of extreme heath. Retrieved from
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/silentkillerreport
11. Hughes, L. & McMichael, T. (2011). The critical decade: climate change and health.
Retrieved from
http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/1bb6887d6f8cacd5d844fc30b0857931.pdf
12. DARA. (2012). Climate vulnerability monitor 2nd edition. Retrieved from
https://daraint.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/CVM2-Low.pdf
13. AdaptNSW (2022). Impacts of climate change. Retrieved from
https://www.climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing.
13. Ryan Rafaty, Sugandha Srivastav & Björn Hoops (2020) Revoking coal mining permits:
an economic and legal analysis, Climate Policy, 20:8, 980-996
Yours sincerely,
Bronwyn Mcdonald

object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a concerned citizen. I object to the proposed Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation
Project primarily on the grounds that there is a CLIMATE EMERGENCY!
At this point in time, no one can claim to be ignorant of this, or the cause. Everything is wellknown, and we are suffering the predicted consequences of inaction: catastrophic bushfires,
terrible doughts, and currently extensive flooding. All of these are exacerbated by humaninduced Climate Change primarily through burning fossil fuels, which emit carbon to the
atmosphere, creating a warmer planetary climate.
You know all this of course. So, how can you even contemplate approval of the Chain Valley
Colliery Consolidation Project proposed by Delta Coal at Lake Macquarie, which would
produce another 9.5 MILLION tonnes of coal? Approval of this project would be INSANE!
The government has committed to lowering emissions substantially by 2030; if we don't start
now, when will we start? Approving this project will set us back years, when we no longer
have the luxury of time.
The EIS is deficient and should be done again, properly, and re-exhibited. Why on earth has
this project been accorded "State Significant" status - in what way is it possible that a
privately-owner coal mine expansion can be designated of "State Significance" in this day
and age of Climate Change? I fail to comprehend.
How on earth can a coal mine expansion be in the public interest? How can the the
principles of ecologically sustainable development - the precautionary principle, intergenerational equity, conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity and "polluter
pays" be applied to the expansion of a coal mine in this era of Climate Crisis?
On the "Precautionary principle" alone this project must be refused, on the grounds that coal
mines produce coal for the sole purpose of burning it for energy, which contributes to harm
to the environment, threatening serious or irreversible environmental damage, specifically to
the atmosphere by adding to CO2, exacerbating Global Warming.
Our kids won't thank us if projects like this continue to go ahead, impinging upon the
principle of Inter-generational equity which says we must not act knowingly to harm our kids'
future. Approving & expanding coal mines is directly against this principle, leaving our kids
and grandkids with a terrible legacy which they cannot want. We MUST act responsibly, for
their sake: refuse this project!
And what about the "Polluter pays" principle? We dig up coal, sell it overseas, they burn it,
then we pretend that it's nothing to do with us that the atmosphere is polluted and the
Climate is changing due to CO2 emissions; and even though we all breathe the same
polluted air on the same planet, we pretend that our coal mines are nothing to do with us and
that we have no power to stop them. This is a false argument, and we should grow up and
take responsibility. We MUST stop coal production, asap.
The "likely impacts" of this project can be calculated; we know how to do this, we know the
science. We have no excuse. The EIS for this Project have not been properly addressed in
the environmental impact statement, and the "likely impacts" have not been properly
assessed in the EIS.
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Another issue not properly addressed in the EIS is offsite air quality regarding the polluting
gases produced during the burning of the coal extracted from the mines at Vales Point
Power Station – NOx, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 and mercury emitted from the power station;
These pollutants have impacts on community heatlh. This outcome has not been properly
considered in the EIS, neither have the the combustion emissions from the 270 coal trucks
used to transport coal to the Port of Newcastle on a daily basis.
Please don't approve this EIS, please don't approve this project. In this era of Climate
Emergency, we cannot afford to increase emissions or risk our kids & grandkids' futures.
Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on this important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Claire Bettington

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I believe that it is im the best interest of the community and the environment to discontinue
investment in coal minning and rather invest in clean technologies
Very concrrnef about health impacts due to poor air quality emmissions
Very concrrned about envirinmental impacts due to water contamination
Very concrrnef about impacts on biodiversity
Extremely concrrned aboutclimate change and that expanding coal.mime
Yours sincerely,

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I object to the proposal to expand further the mine under Lake Macquarie. Having been born
in Waratah Newcastle and raised further up the Hunter Valley in Branxton I am still in touch
with my father’s family in Newcastle and around Lake Macquarie. My late father was a
pharmacist in Branxton and until my retirement I was also a pharmacist so I am very
concerned about the health and environmental degradation effects of further mining under
Lake Macquarie. Not to ignore the statistics of mostly inevitable subsidence when mining
under any water catchment or water storage area. Nature abhors a vacuum and that. Is just
what mining creates.
My main concerns are the health issues of coal dust and heavy metal pollution of further
unnecessary mining of an outdated energy source whose benefits are rapidly being
overtaken worldwide by renewables.
Neither I nor anyone in my extended family, to my knowledge ever suffered from asthma or
other respiratory complaints. Not so with the current crop of grandchildren and great
grandchildren still living around Lake Macquarie.
The continual exposure to coal dust all down the Hunter Valley as coal is transported to the
Port of Newcastle has caused an increase in asthma and low birthweight babies according
to my cousins.
Apart from this there is the scarring of the landscape of my once beautiful Hunter Valley -
almost all mining was underground , done by manual labour and very little ‘open cut’
occurred.
The irresponsible mining under Lake Macquarie of an outdated energy source at the
expense of the health of the local people who built Newcastle , cannot be continued and
definitely not expanded, in good conscience.
We know better now. To continue and to expand is to put at risk the heath of citizens, the
destruction of our rapidly deteriorating environment, the further trampling of the sacred sites
of First Australians and all to line the pockets of, and appease the shareholders of, foreign
owned mining companies whose greed will turn the Hunter Valley into an unrecognisable
quarry containing a contaminated lake.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Forster

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired sales assistant from western Sydney.
I object to the expansion of the coal mine under Lake Macquarie for environmental reasons
of subsidence & air quality.
People live in this area & want to be able to breathe & fish for recreation. Vales point power
station should cease to exist there as it is a major polluter.
This area would be good for solar or wind farms.
Too much air pollution would be caused by burning this coal at Vales point power station.
The potential pollution of coal trucks going to Newcastle would be too great on the people of
the area.
I conclude to stop the expansion of this coal mine & any other coal mine in the state.
The potential impacts of contaminated water discharged from sediment dams into the creek,
which flows into Lake Macquarie would be dangerous to the environment.
This expansion would cause harm to the environment & cause climate change in the region.
Yours sincerely,

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I live on the Central Coast. I know many people who live near the Vales Point power station,
Chain Valley mine, Munmorah power station site, and the coal ash dams associated with
these power stations. Many of these people have cancer, asthma and other chronic illnesses
which I believe are caused by the coal ash and the unfiltered pollution resulting from the
power stations burning coal, transporting coal and dumping the coal ash in the area. This is
a grave threat to many people in the area.
I also have seen first hand the destruction of Lake Macquarie and the other lakes in the area
caused by the coal mining, the power stations and the coal ash dams. There are few fish in
the lake, the sea grass has died off and if you did catch a fish you would not want to to eat it
due to the toxic nature of it.
The Chain Valley coal mine poses a threat to the lake and the land around it. The risk to
subsidence is already grave and so to extend the mine would be madness. Mining under a
lake is madness - the water is very likely to find a way into the mine and then you have
polluted the whole waterway and the associated ecosystems, as well as the ocean it flows
to.
The carbon emissions from the Chain Valley mine are also significantly contributing to
climate change which is a local and global threat.
Vales Point power station needs to be closed down by 2025 at the latest to stop it from
causing any more damage to humans and the natural environment. Therefore the Chain
Valley mine is obsolete.
There is a dire threat to local health from nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), coarse
and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from the coal that is mined and burned locally.
This is causing asthma in over 650 children each year and heart disease, stroke, cancer etc.
There is also the threat from the coal being transported to the Port of Newcastle on air
pollution from Lake Macquarie to Newcastle. These are grounds enough to not allow any
more coal to be mined.
There are huge risks to the local environment from the polluted water from the mines
entering Lake Macquarie. There is also a real risk of subsidence resulting in water pollution
entering the lake system.
There is significant risk to local infrastructure and local ecosystems caused by future
subsidence. Climate change is causing more natural disasters such as storms and floods,
which will very possibly result in more risk of subsidence.
The world cannot tolerate an extra 25,350,157 tonnes CO2-e of greenhouse gases emitted
(Scope 1, 2 and 3) from this coal mine. This is a climate emergency with major planetary
tipping points being reached already which will send our planet into climate breakdown. This
mine would contribute even greater risk to us all from climate chaos. There is no justification
for adding more carbon emissions to the atmosphere at the point in history - it is a crime
against humanity and the natural world.
Do not let this coal mine be expanded - it needs to be closed down as soon as possible This
is a matter of life and death for many people and ecosystems. The profits of Delta Energy
should not take precedence over this. If you are unsure, use the precautionary principle to
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ensure that the risk is averted. The future survival of my young daughter and all of our
younger generations depends on us stopping any more fossil fuels being mined and burned.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Suzie Brown

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a grandfather of 6 grandchildren and am concerned that the coal mined as a result of
this project will contribute significantly to global warming. I do not believe that this has been
properly taken into account by the EIS.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Bull

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired public servant and have lived by Lake Macquarie for the last 40 years. The air
quality has never been good in this area particularly with a westerly or south westerly wind
as fly ash and coal dust are whipped up and deposited over a large area. Dust often
blankets our walls windows and verandahs. And this is not to mention the unseen particles
that we are breathing in. An increase in coal mining under Lake Macquarie will only make
this situation worse. Mining under the lake has always caused problems with mine
subsidence and I suggest that joining these two mines will only exacerbate this issue and
cause problems along the shoreline and low lying residences. From an environmental point
of view we must swing away from coal fired power as soon as possible. Origin energy
appears to be accelerating it's switch away from fossil fuels at Eraring but Delta seems
more intent on screwing as much profit as it can out of continuing to burn coal and to hell
with the environment and climate change.
There have been recent fish kills in the area of the Delta power station and these have not
been adequately investigated nor explained. This is very serious and goes straight to the
question of water quality coming from these power stations.
Methane escape is a massive problem so far as climate change is concerned and the
escape of methane from these proposed mines must be addressed.
Yours sincerely,

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
NO NEW COAL. ........yes, shouting.
All the science says that we have a small chance of averting the worst of the effects of
anthropogenic climate change if we stop digging up and burning fossil fuels. What are you
thinking in even contemplating permission to expand a coal mine?
Yours sincerely,
William Douglas

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired teacher, currently working full-time with Climate Action Burwood/Canada Bay,
on a voluntary basis. I am very concerned that the proposed coal project will be damaging to
Lake Macquarie and to the local community. I am also concerned that the coal extracted will
add to global emissions, at a time when the International Energy Agency says we cannot
open any new fossil fuel projects if we are to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5C .
I want my children to live in a world that resembles the one I grew up in. This will not be
possible if we continue to approve projects like this.
There are numerous reasons why this project will impact negatively on community health.
In the first place, the nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), coarse and fine particulate
matter and mercury pollution created by burning the coal extracted from these mines at
Vales Point Power Station will be very detrimental.
Secondly, there will be cardiovascular impacts, including heart disease and stroke,
respiratory illness like asthma in children and newborns being born with low birthweight.
Thirdly, the potential pollution from coal trucks taking the coal to the Port of Newcastle every
day will impact those who live nearby.
There will also be impacts on water and the environment. As you no doubt know, an expert
in mining and geotechnical engineering was commissioned to review the EIS for the project.
He found that the potential impacts of contaminated water being discharged from the
sediment dams into Swindles Creek, which then discharges directly into Lake Macquarie, is
not adequately addressed in the EIS. He also identified that the EIS does not adequately
assess the potential impacts of the Project on local biodiversity, particularly the ecology of
Swindles Creek.
More than anything, I am concerned about the impact of the project on CO2 emissions.
Delta Coal plans to extract an additional 9.5 million tonnes of coal if the Project is approved.
This will add an additional 25,350,157 tonnes CO2-e of greenhouse gases (Scope 1, 2 and
3). In his review of the GHG assessment, the expert concluded that the feasibility of
capturing and burning the fugitive methane emissions caused by mine depressurisation
would need to be evaluated, in order to reduce GHGs. He also concluded that the estimate
of GHG emissions does not include gases emitted by the mine depressurisation systems. In
consequence, the EIS fails to assess the likely impacts of GHG emissions from the Project in
contributing to climate change and the harm this will cause. I am objecting to the project on
the grounds that Australia’s GHG emissions must be urgently reduced by 74 percent by
2030, if we are to 'do our bit' in keeping temperature increases to 1.5C. By contrast, the
Project would actually increase Australia’s emissions by 25 million tonnes over the next 7
years.
Yours sincerely
Ken Enderby

object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired manual worker who has lived a make do working class life because I believe
strongly that we each are responsible for the natural environment, not just in our local areas
but world wide, and are diminished by the poverty and injustices suffered by people
throughout the world.
I am particularly concerned about the following aspects of the Project:
• Discharge of dirty mine water into Lake Macquarie.
• Land subsidence, typical of underground mines.
The underground mine extension proposal at Lake Macquarie by Delta Coal is so blatantly
dismissive of environmental and health effects when the world is in the critically in danger 3-
4 degree average increase in global temperatures without the ending of coal mining before
2030, I cannot believe the extension can be considered at all.
Fugitive gas emissions from mine extraction under Lake Macquarie. I.ve seen videos of
those gases bubbling from rivers that mine companies alway deny responsibility for, knowing
the difficulties of establishing indisputable proof. A mining engineer once said to me that it
was poor work by drilling contractors, as if that settled the matter!
Worse air quality locally and worldwide with air movements as well as from the eventual
burning wherever that would occur.
Yours sincerely
Jim Morris

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired gardener who is concerned for the welfare of the Lake Macquarie community
with the health problems of pollution that the project would have on the local environment
and the long term effects of climate change
Yours Sincerely
Raymond Kennedy

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retiree who frequently reads about the high level of PM10 particles in the Upper
Hunter area where there have been more than 30 air quality alerts this year and would hate
to think that such environmental pollution could be worsened by this project.
Yours sincerely
Peter Nash

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a retired Intensive Care Paramedic and I understand the damage that can be done to
the health of people who come into contact with the pollutants from Coal Mining and the
burning of Coal. The pollutants are proven by the submissions to the EPA both by the
Community and by Delta itself.
I have a Granddaughter who is only 4 years old now and she suffers from asthma and skin
irritations and I believe that Coal is a contributing factor to her ailments.
I fish in Lake Macquarie using my boat and I don't wish any further pollutants to be
"LEACHED" into the Lake or for the Lake bottom to subside.
PLEASE STOP THIS CRASY DEVELOPMENT FORM GOING AHEAD.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Hogeveen